As the leading goal and point scorer for Boston College men’s soccer in 2024, team captain Ask Ekeland was destined for an impressionable senior year.
But the Norwegian midfielder hadn’t gotten his chance yet—BC’s offense as a whole, in fact, hasn’t given much to write home about.
After just two goals in their first three games, the Eagles needed a pick-me-up win, and what better way to do that than against their crosstown-rival Northeastern (1–2–1, 0–1–0 CAA).
After a yellow card was awarded to the Huskies’ keeper, Ekeland banged his first, and the team’s only goal for a BC (2–2–0) win on Tuesday evening.
“For an attacking player, like Ask, getting your first goal is always a nice moment,” BC head coach Bob Thompson said. “I think a little bit of relief, and I think hopefully we can build off that one.”
After Ekeland’s goal at 9:31 off a penalty kick, BC would put one more shot on goal before the end of the half.
The Eagles tallied five shots on goal, their most in a game all season. Ekeland had two of those, and had seven shots on top of that.
“We trained the attack the last couple days really well,” Thompson said. “You could see the composure in the final third more, and just the options of when to cross the ball and when to attack the goal were just a little bit clearer.”
Coming out of the gate in the second half, Dylan Mafong crossed through the middle and sent a ball top-middle that was blocked aside by the reaching hand of Tobias Jahn.
BC goalkeeper Andrej Borak then responded with his own game-defining save, extending his arms along the right post to keep the ball out at 52:37.
Borak ended Tuesday with six saves on the night, his season-high so far.
Ekeland found himself in another prime position for a goal at 63:44, breaking through the defensive unit for a shot but sailing it just wide.
All the Eagles needed to do from then on was keep pressure off Borak in the final 25 minutes. Giving him only one more, the Serbian keeper saved his shutout for International Students Night and sent the Huskies back to Boston with a loss.
“I think getting a win just to build confidence going into the Cal game would be huge for us,” Thompson said. “And Northeastern always makes it difficult.”
